Folder



May 26, 1942. vw. A. RINGL'ER FOLDER Filed Aug. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet2 ATTORNEY latented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATE c, FOLDER William A.Ringler, Wayne, Pa., assignor to National Folding Box Company, NewHaven, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application August25, 1939,Serial No. 291,799

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) of stacked or folded, articles, is providedrwhich10 may be inexpensively formed from'a single blank of paperboardmaterial. The blank is suitably cut and scored to provide a bottommerchandise supporting panel with inturnedside flapshingneeded to holdthe folder in fixed, assembled position and yet the folder issufiicientlystrong and rigid so as to fully contain, enclose and protectthe merchandise packedtherein.

The consumer may conveniently obtainaccess I Y tothe merchandise inthefolderby removing the covering wrapper, withdrawing the cornerportions of the end flaps from their housed-position between the sideflaps and associated turnunder flaps, and then-swinging the end flapsand the side flaps outwardly. After the consumer edly connected theretoon opposite sides thereof,-

each side flap having a fold-under flaphinged thereto. Eachfoldunderfiap is providedwith a pair of inwardly projecting ears whichare severed fromthe side flap, the ears being so arranged as to supportinwardly extending endflaps. Each corner portion of eachend; flap istucked between the adjacent, inturned sidefiap and the turn-under flap.The .inturned side and end flaps together form a substantially con- Therim portion of the folder may be spaced any desired distance from thebottom wall panel by providing side and end wall panels to which theside and end flaps are hingedly connected. Tha prepared blanks may beshipped to the user in fiat extended condition so as to occupy a veryminimum of space during shipment and storage. In packaging, the userplaces a single or a tinuous rim extending inwardly around the.2 bottompanel and in spaced relationthereto.

plurality of relatively fiat articles of merchan- ..3

' dise, which may be folded, if desired, upon the bottom wall panel. Thefolder is closed by folding each turn-under flap over its associatedside flap and then swinging each side flap inwardly so as to overlie themerchandise. Each end flap is then folded inwardly and each cornerportion thereof is tucked between the adjacent end of the I turn-under.flap and the overlying side flap so as to provide a substantiallycontinuous rigid rim overlying the, merchandise "and preventing...

withdrawal thereof. A cover, which may com-I prise a sheet of paperboardpositioned to underlie the rim portion, may be provided to protect themerchandise in the folder from contamination or injury. If more completeprotection to the merchandise within the folder is desired, theassembled folder with the merchandise packed therein may be wrapped orcovered by suitable sheet material, such as paper or Cellophane. Noglue,

, staples, stitches or other. securing means are has removed the desirednumber of articles of merchandise from the folden the folder may beeasily and quickly closed as above indicated.

My improved folder is particularly adapted for the convenient andeconomical packaging of numerous, relatively fiat articles ofmerchandise, such as textile or paper handkerchiefsand napkins, facialtissue, carbon papers, stencil sheets, writing paper, bed sheets, pillowcases and numerous other. articles which may be either folded orextended when packaged.- Thus,. either a single article or aplurality ofarticles may be conveniently packaged in the folder as desired.

An object of this invention i to provide an improved folder formed from;a' single blank of paperboard material which can be economicallymanufactured, assembled and packaged. 1

Another object ofthis invention is to provide improved folders for thepackaging of relatively flat articles of merchandise, which folders canbe formed complete at high production speed and in one operation bymeans of an automatic cutting andscoring machine, yandwhich maybeshipped to theuser in 'flat'extended condition occupying a minimum ofspace during shipment and storage. v j

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved folder'whi'chcan be conveniently packaged and closed by theuser to fully protect andenclose the contents, which can be 'conveniently opened and reclosed bythe consumer, and which can be madein numerous different shapes, sizesand forms to provide a highly serviceable'and attractive package. I

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe disclosure proceeds.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features ofconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be parhereto, the invention itself, as to itsobjects and I close the-contained merchandise; g V Fig, is a perspectiveview of the folder fully assembled to" enclose the merchandise allassembled package, this view being lines |I|'l0-of-Fig.:9.

advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming a partthereof, in which Fig. 1 isa plan view of aprepared blank from V which my improved folder isassembled;

Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the prepared blankS-withthe rim-formingflaps thereof in the process of being folded over the containedmerchandise;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the folder showing onecorner of an end flap in the process of being insertedlbetween theadjacent overlying inturned side flap-and the underlying outturnedturn-under flapf Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of the. folderas it appearswhen fully assembled to en'- wrapped within-a transparentcovering Wrapper,

' thecovering-wrapper being partially broken away to more clearly;illustrate the construction; Fig. 6is a planyview of a preparedblank'from which a folderof' somewhat modified form may beassembled;

Fig; 7' s a'perspectiveview'of the blank shown in-- Fig. 6 inthe-process of-beingass'emble'd into a merchandisecontaining folder;

Fig. 8 is another'perspective view of thefolder as itappears at afurther advancedstageinthe packaging operation Fig5-9 is a perspectiveview of the-fully assem bled folder as it appearswhen merchandise is Icontained" therein; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view through the taken along I Similarreference characters refer to sim ilar parts throughout, the severalviews of the drawings and the specification. 7

Referringmore particularly toFigstl to 5', inclusive, my improved foldermay be made from a single blankofpaperboard material which is cut andscored by means of: an automatic cutting and scoring machine from-largesheets or rolls of paperboard material; Paperboard-material of therequisite weight, thickness, stiffness and toughness is selected'tosupport and contain fthe desired weight} size and quantity ofmerchandise in accordance with shipping and-merchandising requirements.If the contents are of great weight," the'fol'der may be-made'of severalplies of tough paperboard material.

Referring 'to the folder-forming blankshown in Fig. 1, the blankcomprises a bottom-forming panel I having diametrically opposed sidewallpanels Zhihgdto the bottom panel lalong suitable hinge or fold lines 3.Diametrically opposed j end wall-panels} are suitably hingedlyconnectedto the bottomwall panel Lasby-scorelines, II. I A flap'section 5 ishin'gedly connected; to each of the side wall panelsl as byscore line6'. Each. flap section -5 is divided into two-portionscomprising aninturnedside flap 5a anda turn-under fla'p ib which are hingedly.connected along the hinge line 9. A diagonally extending cut Ill extendsfrom each end of the hinge line 9-to the adjacent end of the hinge line5, defining agen- -erallyftriangular shaped platformportion 5c formed asa part of the'turn under-flap-portion 5b. -Asupp'orting leg L'which maybe approxiof the adjacent end wall panel 4, is hingedly connected toeach end of flap portion 5b along a hinge line 8.

Anend flap I2 is hingedly connected to each 5 of the end wall panels 4along the hinge line l3,

each end flap l2 having a rounded corner portion |2a fora purposewhich-will presently appear.

The. blank as shown in Fig. lmay be produced at a very high productionrate upon an auto- 10 matic cutting and scoring machine which cuts eachblank in the proper shape and scores each I 1 blank in rapid successionas the paperboard in the form of large sheets or rolls is fed throughthemachine. The blanks formed as shown in 5-'Fig..1 canrbe stacked insuperimposed relationcleonly such asa handkerchief, napkin, bed

sheet, towel, pillow case, blanket and'other textile materials. andgarments, a single extended or--folded article or plurality ofsucharticles beingstacked in the folder as'desired; Thefolder is alsohighly adapted. for. the packaging of numerous other materials which.are a stacked therein either in,folded-'or unfolded condition, such asfacial tissues,- paper napkins, carbon paper, stencil sheets,writing-papers, envelopes, and numerous otherarticles of'merchandise aswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. To facilitateidescriptionthe article. or articlespacked inl'thefolder'will be generallyreferred-to as merchandise- M, which designation isintended tot mem'ae.allbfthe various articles, including -those;abovelenumerated, which canbesatisfact'orily packed'and'merchandised in such folders. Themerchandise M either folded, stacked or of; "singleeplythickness should:be so arranged wheniiprepared for. packaging as to substantial- 'lyoccupy the. entire area. of the bottom wall paneli l. The side" wallpanels: Land the end wall: panelsi4i'shouldcorrespond in height to theheight: of: the merchandise to be packed therein. Eachfiapiportionjbisswung over the insidel face oftthelsideflap' portion 5a to whichit':i's;hingedly connected; The side panels-2' are then; raised ':andeachiuof thei side flap portions Shareswun'ginwardly ras-shown'in Fig.2.The 'leg supports: 1' hingedly. connected to the side flap portions'5hziare;then.;swung downwardly so thatthe'. free.ed'gezthereofrwillfrest upon the 60 bottomzwalls panelwith'the'xoutturned; turnunderilflapportionsjb andxthe triangular'shapedplatfornifportibnsz 5c overlying-pr res'tingmp'on "the tomsurfaceofithermerchandise M; When 'th'us: assembled; it". will; be: appreciated"that the outturnedssidexflaptportions 5b,: exeepticf'or the ttriangularishape'd platform portions :50, are conc'eazledi between- .themerchandise and'rthe over- :plyingf in'turned'isidarflap portion'i 5a.The legs I: support thejtriangular shaped platform por-"tions-ietheoutturned flapportions 5b, and the inturned side-flapportions 5a in aplane a substantially-parallel-to, but'spaced from; thebotmately the width'of theflapsectioni andhavtom wall panel 1-. ingadepth approximately -equal-to the depth When the-flap sections 5' havebeen thus as-s .foldedorstacked so as to occupy substantially sembled,the end wall panels 4 are raised 'so as to overlie the legs 1. End flaps[2 are then turned inwardly. so .as to rest upon the platform portions5c. To maintain the folder in merchandise containing position, each.corner portion l2a of the inturned end flaps I2 is inserted under theadjacent cut edge I so as to be frictionally gripped between the turnedunder'fiap portion b and the overlying side flap portion 5a. The cornerportions l2a of the end- .fiapsare thus held pinched between adjacentthe entire area of the bottom wall panel-2|, the edges of the mechandiseextending substantially to the fold lines 23 and- 21.. To protect themerchandise and to completely enclose the same, a cover C may be.positioned upon the ;top

flap portions 5a and 5b, the friction between the parts being such as torequire considerable force to withdraw the end flaps l2 from theirgripped position.

No adhesive, staples, stitches, or other securing means are required tohold the folder 'fully assembled in package form enclosing the one uponthe other without danger of collapse.

or damage to the contents. Y

If desired, an overlying cover C which may be made from a fiat blank ofpaperboard material is placed upon the merchandise M, prior to foldingthe blank, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The cover Cis retained in fixed position by the overlying continuous rim of thefolder. The cover member C fully protects the merchandise'from dust andcontamination. If desired, the packaged folder may be enclosed within asuitable wrapper W as shown in Fig. 5. The wrapper W may be made ,ofsome transparent material so that the merchandise contents are fullyvisible therethrough.

Where a single relatively thin article, or plurality of articlespresenting a limited combined thickness, are to be packaged, the sidewall panels 2 and the end wall panels 4 and the supporting leg 1, asshown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, may be eliminated. There is shown forpurposes of illustration in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, a folder highlyadapted to the packaging of a relatively thin article or articles. Thisfolder may be formed from a single blank of paperboard material, asshown in Fig. 6, comprising a bottom wall panel 2| of the required shapeand dimensions .to properly contain the merchandise.

A pair of diametrically opposed side flap sections 22 are each hingedlyconnected to the bottom wall panel 2| as by score line 23. Each sideflap section 22 is divided into an inturned side flap portion 22a and anoutturned side fiap portion 221), these portions being defined andconnected by a hinge or fold line 24. A cut 25 extends diagonally fromeach end of score line 24 to the adjacent end, of score line 23 defininga triangular shaped platform portion 220. A pair of diametricallyopposed end flaps 26 are each hinged to the bottom wall panel 2| along ahinged or fold line 21. The end flaps 26 and side flap sections 22 mayterminate short of the extreme corner 28 of the bottom panel 2| tofacilitate packaging.

In packaging, the merchandise isv arranged,

merchandise, arranged stacked flat condition. The folders are mostecosurface of the merchandise, cover C comprising a flat sheet ofpaperboard material out to the desired size. The side flaps 22 andendfiaps 26 are then assembled to overlie the merchandise and provide asubstantially continuous merchandise-retaining rim" or flange. v

The merchandise-retaining rim is formed .by

folding each of the outturned sidefiapportions22b over the inside faceof the corresponding inturned side flap portion 22a to which it ishingedly connected. Each of the side flap portions 22a is then foldedinwardly to overlie the merchandise or merchandise-protecting cover C.When thus arranged, the triangular-shaped platformportion 220 willextend inwardly with the outer edge 28 thereof substantially inalignment to the adjacent hinge line 21.

The merchandise-retaining rim is completed by folding the end flaps 26inwardly, the end flaps 26 and the side flaps 22 being retained in fixedposition by insertingeach' corner 26a of the end flaps between theadjacent overlying side flap portion 22a and the underlying side flapportion 22b, insertion'being effected at the outline 25. The end flaps26 are tenaciously held in inturned position by the pinching andfrictional forces exerted on the corner portions 260 thereof' by theunderlying outturned side flap-portions 22b and the overlying inturnedside flap portions 22a. The package can only be opened by exertingconsiderable outward pulling force on the end flaps 26 so as to withdrawthe corner portions 26a thereof from their housed position.

The package as thus assembled will retain its proper container formunder substantially all conditions of use and-abuse which merchandisecontainers receive in the channels of commerce. The triangular shapedplatform portions 220 act to support the overlying end flaps 26 andfurther provide a tying gusset or strut whereby the end flaps 26 and theside flaps 22a are retained in spaced parallel relationship with respectto the bottom wall panel 2|. The assembled merchandise-containingfoldermay be wrapped in a suitablewrapper to further protectthemerchanwrinkled condition until ultimately consumed.

Folders made in accordance with this invention are highly attractive andserviceable, and may be used forthe packaging of numerous articles of ineither .folde'd or nomical to manufacture, and may be completely formedby running large sheets or rollsof the selected paperboard materialthrough a cutting and scoring machine which prepares the complete blankwithout hand operation. No gluing,

stitching or stapling operation is required to assemble the blank. Theflat blanks are shipped to the user in flat expanded form substantiallywithout lost dead air space and thus substantial economies can beeffected in shipping and storage costs. When the merchandise is to bepackaged,.the merchandise is placed on the bottom wall panel thereof andthe merchandise is quick- "it and positively enclosed by acontinuous-oyer 'few-' simple; quickly performed flap turning" op-'erations. A-cover comprising a flat paperboard member may be" providedwhich is to: be posi-? paperboard material'either single orplural ply,

" parting from the spirit of'the invention.

'lycontinuous intur'n'ed rim overlying the merlyin'g enclo'sing rim;whi'ch is-quickl'y formed by-a 1 V tioned over the merchandise. to* liedirectly be neath the retaining rim. v T

My improved folder is adapted to be formed in numerous attractive andconvenient sizes," shapes and contours to containand packagenum'eroustiO- and various articles'of' merchandise. The proper of therequisite-stiffness and strength toproperly retain and support themerchandiselto b'e' packaged, is selected for the folder blank.The'folder: 16 may be so made as to contain a stack of merchandise' ofalmost-any desired thicknessby pro- What is claimedisz V o 1. Amerchandise package including, a folder formed from a single blank ofpaperboard ma- 135 terial including a bottomwall panel upon which themerchandise is positioned, a substantially continuous inturned rimoverlying the merchandise and retaining the merchandise within thefolder, said rim including alternate flap sections: 40

each presenting. before folding" a generally rectangular-shaped sectionhavingan outer flap portion-hinged to an 1 inner flap portion, each ofsaid outer "flap portions being" folded to underlie its associated innerflap portion, eachof said un- 4;

derlying flap portions having. end extensionsprojecting beyond 'the'endedges of the associated overlying flap portion, and intermediateflap'sections having the end" portions thereof 7 supported by theadjacent'end extensions and inserted between the overlyingand'underlying flap; portions of the'adjacentalternate sections. Y

2. A' merchandise package comprising, a foIder formed from a singleblankof paperboard material including a'bottom'wall panel u'ponwhich themerchandise is positionedgan'd a substantialchandise and. retaining themerchandise within the folder, saidzrim comprising opposite side flapsections and opposite end flapsectionsg each of 66 said side flapsections presenting before folding an outerside flap portionhinged-'toaninner side flap portion, each of said outerside-flapportions being folded-to underlie'its associated inner side flapportionand having-end extensions project- 5 ing beyond-the end-edges ofthe" associated overlying side flap p0'rtion',- said end flap-sectionshaving cornerportions thereof supported by said end extensionsand'inserted between said overdying-and underlying sideflapportion'sr 7 s 703. A merchandise package including, a folder formed froma single blankor paperboard material including-a b'ottom wall panel upon-which themerchandise is positioned, and a substantial- -ly continuous inturnedrim: overlying thei merchandise and retaining'the' merchandise withinthe folder, said rimincluding alternateside flap sections andintermediate end flap sections, each of'said side -flap'-'sectionspresenting before folding'anouter' sidenflap portlonhinged to an innersidefl ap portion; each of said outer side flap portionsbeing folded tounderlie its associatedinner 'sidefiap portion, each of said underlyingside flap portions having ear extensions coplanar therewith projectingbeyond the adjacent end edges of a the associated overlying sideflapporl tion; saidea'r extensions providing means upon which said end flapsections are supported, said 'end flap;v sections? having the cornerportions thereof inserted between said overlying and un- V derlyingsideflap'portions.

4. A- merchandise package comprising, a folderformed from a single-blankof paperboardmaterial having a-bottomwahpanel uponwhich the merchandiseis supported-side and end wall panels hingedly connected to said b'ottomwall panel,

and a substantially continuous inturned rim overlying the merchandiseand retaining the merchandise within the folder, said rimcomprising-side flap sections hingedly connected to said sidewallpanels, each of said side'flap sections presenting before foldinga'generally" rectangular-shaped section havingan outer side flap portionhinged to-an inner side flap portion, each of said outer sideflap-portions being folded to-underlie. its associated:-inner'side flapportionand having ear extensions projecting beyond the end edges oftheassociated'overlying side flap por-v tion; and end flap'sec'tions'connect'edto saidend wall panels having corner portionsthereof inserted' between 'said' overlying and underlying sideflapportions. V s

5; A merchandise package comprising, a folder formed from a single blankof paperboard'materialihavi'ng a bottom'wall panel upon which themerchandise is'supported, side and end wall panels hingedlyconnectedtosaid bottomwall panel, and a substantially'continuousinturned rimoverlyin the merchandise and retainingthe merchandise within the folder,said rim comprising side flap sections hinge'dly connected to'said sidewall panels, each of said sidefiap sections pre- 'sen'ting' beforefolding an outer side flap portion .hinged'to an inner side flapportion, each of said outer'side flap portions being folded to underlieits associated inner side flap portion and having ear extensionsprojecting beyond the end edges ofl'the associated overlying side flapportion, a leg portionhinged to each'end' of each underlying. side flapportion having thelower edge thereofresting upon said bottom Wall panel,and end flaps hi'ngedly connected to said end wallpanels having-thecorner portions thereof'inserted between said overlying and underlyingside flap portions.

v 6. A'merchandi'se package-comprising, a folder formed from asingle'blank of paperboard material having a-bottom wall panel uponwhich the mn chanizlise is supported, side and end wall'panels hingedlyconnected to saidbottom wall panel. and asubstantiallycontinuousinturned rim overlying themerchandise and retaining themerchandise within thefolder, said rim comprising side flapsections'hingedly connected to said side wallpanels, each of said sideflap sections presenting before folding an outer side flap portionhinged to anlinnerside flap portion, each of said outer side flapportions bein folded-to underlie its associated inner side flap portion,supporting ears extending inwardly from said underlying side flapportions and beyond the adjacent end edges of the associated overlyingside flap portion, and end flaps hingedly connected to said end wallpanels and supported by said ears, said end flaps having corner portionsthereof inserted between said overlying and underlying side flapportions. 7

'7. A merchandise package comprising, a folder formed from a singleblank of paperboard material having a bottom wall panel upon which themerchandise is supported, side and end wall panels hingedly connected tosaid bottom wall panel, and a substantially continuous inturned rimoverlying the merchandise and retaining the merchandise within thefolder, said rim portion comprising a side flap section hingedlyconnected to each of said side wall panels, each of said side flapsections presenting before folding an outer side flap portion hinged toan inner side flap portion, each of said outer side flap portions beingfolded to underlie its associated inner side flap portion, each of saidunderlying side flap portions having supporting ears coplanar therewithand

